January 20, 2002

Minority of New York City companies resist laying off workers as profits falter during recession; seek to preserve company's culture and keep morale high; photo (M)

Felicia Lee Coping column on plight of Barbara Carson, 63, whose welfare payments expired in December under 1996 federal law and who is seeking job to support herself and her five grandchildren; Carson is eligible for safety net assistance but has yet to receive any allowances; drawing (M)

Collapse of Enron Corp may deal setback to energy deregulation, which Enron lobbied for more aggressively than any of its competitors; deregulation of power industry has progressed far more slowly than Enron's vaunted influence would suggest, and one of its goals, open access to nation's transmission lines, remains stalled in many regions; questions about Enron's input on Bush administration's energy plan is also drawing Senate scrutiny; former federal regulators, lobbyists and executives of Enron's erstwhile competitors argue that Enron scandal was result not of deregulation, but of lax oversight, hubris and ambition; photos; map (L)

Lisa Belkin column compares working in cubicle to having own office; notes cubicle occupants often try to create space that feels like it has walls out of desire for privacy and comfort; drawing (M)

Dave Anderson's Sport of The Times column examines relationship between Bill Parcells, former football coach and executive, and his former high school basketball coach Mickey Corcoran (L)